I re-read an article today on the importance of investing in your online presence in the Sunday Business Post. In the current economic climate, users will think twice before buying, and that means reviewing products online and comparing your offer with your competitors’.

There’s never been a better time to refresh online presence and invest in online marketing. Martin Casey from Arekibo says: “The website is your virtual front door” , and he is more than right.

This applies to B2B as well. Think about the purchasing department in a company: The fact is that the number one way companies get to know about prospective suppliers is through referrals. But that’s not all, what do you think is the second? They do some sort of research followed by an inquiry call!

This research starts online and what the prospect finds in your website will determine the next step in the decision process. But first things first: before evaluating your offer, they first have to find you in Google.

We’ve been touching base with our customers after the holidays. Happily, we start perceiving a change needed in the way companies regard their online presence. Last year here in Ireland, only 3.5% of companies’ marketing budgets were allocated to online marketing. This percentage will have to increase in 2009 as companies are looking for effective and measurable results.